What Are Thought Leaders Reading, Watching and Listening to in 2018?

Why you should care

Because 2018 could be your most cultural year yet.

By Poornima Apte

The Daily DoseDEC 21 2017

OZY and JPMorgan Chase & Co. have partnered to bring you an inside look at how entrepreneurs are coming up with innovative methods to help the communities around them. Enjoy the rest of our special series here.

You’ve said goodbye to 2017. It’s time to put away the bubbly and the holiday decor and look forward to a bright new year. As you’re getting your 2018 on, what new books, experiences and music should you keep an eye out for? Here’s a cheat sheet we’ve prepared, as recommended by thought leaders at JPMorgan Chase.

Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst by Robert M. Sapolsky

—Chris Blum, Head of Investments, Asia Private Bank, Hong Kong

Bill Murray said it best in Groundhog Day: “People like blood sausages too. People are morons.” You might think there’s no real reason for idiotic decisions, but science proves otherwise. This neurological exploration of human decisions explores how they come to be and what roles culture and ecology play in final outcomes.

—Kelli Keough, Global Head of Digital Wealth Management, New York City

The growth of digital everything is one of the biggest disrupters in recent business history. But corporate officers can harness it to yield astounding positive results. This books shows us how.

No Room for Small Dreams: Courage, Imagination, and the Making of Modern Israel by Shimon Peres

—Andrew Cohen, CEO, International Private Bank, Hong Kong

The next generation of leaders, public or private, can borrow a few points from Shimon Peres’ extraordinary service to Israel. Above all an advocate for peace and a visionary, he showed that dreams can have a basis in practicality even in as polarizing a field as public service.

The new year is a great canvas on which to sketch some incredible experiences.

The new year is also a great canvas on which to sketch some incredible experiences. Check out a few unmissable opportunities below.

Musée Yves Saint Laurent

—Annabelle Azoulay, France Market Manager, Paris

Waiting for the muse to strike? Feeling a little low on inspiration? A studio tour of the legendary Yves Saint Laurent’s work digs is the next must-visit destination in the City of Lights.

Promise Wine and AXR from Napa Valley Vintners

—Peter Kenny, Institutional Relationship Manager, New York City

Napa wines are worth toasting, not least because of the harrowing year the California wine region had in 2017. Both history and Napa’s new flavors are melded in wines from two lesser-known (but plenty smooth sippin’) labels that shine light on the wine country’s bounty.

We can’t wrap up our list without including recommendations for what are sure to be your favorite jams in 2018 and beyond.

“Mariposa Azul” by Luz Pinos

—Jaime Boet, Banker, Latin America Private Bank, New York City and Santiago

Enjoy jazz, contemporary music and Latin pop? Add Luz, the singer-songwriter with Ecuadorian roots, to your playlist. Her dulcet tones will keep you company on many a rainy evening or set the mood for romantic company.

With a Twist by Bria Skonberg

—Michael Bennett, Investment Specialist, U.S. Private Bank, New York City

Soulful vocals and trumpet riffs knock Bria Skonberg’s neo-jazz record out of the ballpark. A modern take on classic jazz that will please both purists and explorers alike.